Feb 17th 2018

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Stuff I was Thinking About

I don't know why I ponder stuff like I do but I do thinkabout trials and my response to them. I was reading in myStreams of The Desert and it is one of the selections I lovebecause it amazes me.

"A bar of steel worth five dollars, when wrought into horseshoes,is worth ten dollars. If made into needles, it is worth threehundred and fifty dollars; if into penknife blades, it is worthThirty-two thousand dollars, into springs for watches it is worthtwo hundred and fifty thousand dollars. What drilling the poor bar must undergoto be worth this! But the more it is manipulated, themore it is hammered, and passed through the fire, beaten andpounded and polished, the greater the value.May this parable help us to be silent, still, and long-suffering.Those who suffer most are capable of yielding most; and it isthrough pain that God is getting the most out of us, for His glory and theblessing of others."(selected)Then today, as I was reading in John 11:1-6 It is the part of scripture thattalks about the letter Jesus receives from Mary and Martha. John wants usto know that it is the Mary who anointed the feet of Jesus and used her hairto wipe it away. The sisters tell their friend Jesus that the one that he loves issick.I have always pondered why Jesus just didn't speak a word and heal Lazarus,why didn't Jesus rush back and comfort the family. It says, that Jesus tarriedfor two days longer, because He wanted God to be glorified and for God'sglory.

But today as I was reading it what jumped out at me was the simple phase,in verse 5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.I kept thinking about it all day, Jesus loved them, John wants us to knowdeep in our hearts, that this was love. Not that anyone did anything wrong,not that someone was out of God's will, not because Jesus couldn't. It wasfor the simple reason that they would all see the glory of God.As I kept pondering the faith it takes to jump from waiting to trusting.I know that Mary and Martha waited, as their brother got sicker and sickerand then the moment when he died, I bet they felt unloved and forsakenand very alone. I bet they doubted everything they had heard Jesus teach.I bet the were angry too.I think you see it when Mary remains sitting in the house, but Martha runsto Him while He is still far off. It has been 4 very long days. I am sure thereare no more tears. I imagine they are exhausted from sorrow.

But still Jesus waits for Martha to reach out from the fiber of all that she believesto trust Him. I think one of the most profound moments in scripture is whenJesus says to move the stone, Martha does not want to trust Him, but He remindsher of what He has just said, " Do you not want to see the glory of God?Then He calls Lazarus.Do you ever wonder about that scene, He must have had at least 100 poundsof spices wrapped in the grave clothes. Was he sad to come back? Did he ever tellhis grand kids about the time he died and what it felt to come back?Did he tell people what he saw?

I think so often my responses are like Martha's I want my own comfort, before Iwant to see the glory of God. I want my life and those I love to have it easy andtrial free. But because God wants me to know that it is for my good and His glory,He chooses to wait. I must have that place in my life to take that leap into trustingand doing what He says, I must let Him open that tomb of my life, so I canhave a new life come out into the light of day.

I have been thinking about that and the more I read it over and over, I seeso many ways that Jesus still calls me Martha, Martha when I want my ownway instead of Mary who got the best part.Just things I was thinking about and thought I would share them withyou. Have a great Tuesday!

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, for His wonderful works to the children of men!

Gail, good thoughts; HE desires for us to think on HIM. I could not help but think about the price of the OIL, when you compared the price of the steel and what all it could do and was worth. Have a blessed day, my friend. Remember, that verse, "whatsoever is lovely, pure.... think on these things". (my translation):))

Kim, this is a great scripture to ponder on. You are so deep girl . You ponder, contemplate and discern and that how you find the answer. I love your post and it makes so much sense to me. I'm the Martha of the world, always seeing that everything is as it should be and leave nothing to chance but that's how I was created. I think it's because I take responsibility for a lot of things. Thanks so much for this post. JB

Hey Kim,Julia is right. You ARE deep!..and insightful! In fact, this post hits very close to home for me and I'm going to try to send you an e-mail tonight to talk about it further. Have a great day :-)

THAT is a WORD, girl! "because God wants me to know that it is for my good and His glory,He chooses to wait." AMEN AMEN!! in the current trials that the Lord has my family in, I am so encouraged to know it IS for MY good and HIS glory!! Otherwise not a moment would be worth it! He is so faithful through it all and to use it all that EVERY. SINGLE. TRIAL is worth it!!

Streams in the Desert is my favorite devotional. I love the writings every day, and it always has such comfort and wisdom. I always believe that He takes our brokenness and works through us to feed others. Your words have surely fed so many. Lovely to meet you.Karen

Kim...well I had a hard time getting past the Streams illustration...WOW!! what an awesome word. Then I followed your pondering, and again, said...that is an awesome word.I think your pondering is what streams said, "the more it is manipulated....the greater the value". Your pondering is manipulating, pounding...etc. and at the end you have a thing of great value...stronger understanding of His WordBlessings

Our pastor just talked about this passage a few weeks ago. It strikes a cord with all of us I guess. I know I'm all too often like Martha instead of Mary. I'm glad God understands this too. Wonderful post Kim!Blessings,Marcia

wow, kim. we have been in a *waiting pattern* for seven months (seems like 7 years) and He keeps saying from His Word, *wait (some more)* and in the meantime we cultivate deeper trust and hope that it'll be a better ending than we can imagine.

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About Me

This year we will be married 38 years. To my best friend. I have walked with God 32 of those years. I have been blessed with wonderful friends and family. I have six children, Four who are married. With nine grandchildren.
We have 5 boys and four girls, I have been so blessed. The fruit of the womb is God's reward. I will celebrate my blogging 5th year anniversary in July. Wow, it has been fun!
This blog is about my garden, my family and my attempts at sewing, wood projects, gardening and just life in general. Thanks for stopping by.